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Arvest Bank Gives $100K To Marshals Museum

Arvest Bank Gives $100K To Marshals Museum

An architect's drawing of the planned $50 million national Marshals Museum shows the abstract five-pointed star design. One arm of the star extends over the Arkansas River in downtown Fort Smith and points to the former Oklahoma Territory

The Walton Family Foundation pledged $2 million to the project in August. The museum will cost about $50 million to build. Plans are to break ground on the 52,260-square-foot museum on Sept. 24, 2014, the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals being founded by President George Washington. Marshals Museum officials said in June they plan to open the facility in fall 2016.

“Having the U.S. Marshals Museum in the state of Arkansas is very important to Arvest,” Rivaldo said. “All the Arvest Bank branches in Arkansas are very excited to be a part of this endeavor. Arvest wanted to be a part of this community and national endeavor of preserving an important part of our history.”

Claude Legris, Fort Smith Advertising and Promotions Commission executive director and a Marshals Museum board member, said the Arvest gift “speaks well to their dedication to the community.”

“Arvest Bank is well-known for investing in communities across the state,” said Jim Dunn, Marshals Museum president and CEO. “It is a testament of its commitment to Fort Smith that they are now a founding donor of the U.S. Marshals Museum. We are grateful for their support.”